Enhanced optical cross section via collective coupling of atomic dipoles in a 2D array

Bettles, Robert J.; Gardiner, Simon A.; Adams, Charles S.

Abstract

Enhancing the optical cross section is an enticing goal in light-matter interactions, due to its fundamental role in quantum and nonlinear optics. Here, we show how dipolar interactions can suppress off-axis scattering in a two-dimensional atomic array, leading to a subradiant collective mode where the optical cross section is enhanced by almost an order of magnitude. As a consequence, it is possible to attain an optical depth which implies high-fidelity extinction, from a monolayer. Using realistic experimental parameters, we also model how lattice vacancies and the atomic trapping depth affect the transmission, concluding that such high extinction should be possible, using current experimental techniques.

Citation

Bettles, R. J., Gardiner, S. A., & Adams, C. S. (2016). Enhanced optical cross section via collective coupling of atomic dipoles in a 2D array. Physical Review Letters, 116(10), Article 103602. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.116.103602

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 9, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Mar 9, 2016
• Publication Date: Mar 11, 2016
• Deposit Date: Feb 19, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 11, 2016
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Print ISSN: 0031-9007
• Electronic ISSN: 1079-7114
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 116
• Issue: 10
• Article Number: 103602
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.116.103602
• Related Public URLs: http://arxiv.org/pdf/1510.07855v2.pdf